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My current TV is a big old ( 7+years) projection set. It is hooked to my surround sound system. The sound is OK but not great and I wonder if that's due in part to the "sound processing stuff" in the TV.

I'm replace this TV soon-will the new TV with new technology have a difference or is the audio signal just passed through?

Tried that...The sound is better going directly from DTV box to Audio receiver but I lose the ability to control volume with the DTV remote and because of the configuration of the room the audio receiver is behind me.

As a rule of thumb, you do NOT connect the audio out from the TV to your audio surround receiver. The only exception to this is for built in apps and/or tuner being used in the TV.
Bad things usually happen to the audio signal trying to route it this way.

As far as control. If you have a TV, audio amp, and a source component (i.e. cable, sat, DVD, etc...). Then a universal remote is a given! You are shooting yourself in the foot without one. Case in point: trying to hook things up in a detrimental manner to performnace, just to make a silly DirecTV remote work everything.

As a side note (and I know it's because your original question had nothing to do with it): You haven't really told us anything about your setup. Being this is obviously a very DIY setup, I'm concerned you have a lot more wrong in your setup than just the above.
If you want some professional advice on the whole setup, just post everything. Everything being what equipment is being used, it's location, and how it's hooked up.

Thanks to all...I went back again and hooked the Audio receiver directly to the HR 20 DTV box. Big difference in sound. Today I will try using an A/B box to see if I can tie in the DVD player. The audio receiver is a Sony..the DTV remote works the box/tv/receiver-what else would I need?

Is the Sony a STEREO or Audio/Video (A/V) receiver? You said 'surround' so assume it's an AV receiver.
A/V receivers generally have places to connect up DVD players so your switching is done via the receiver. There would be a single video output to the TV.

If you don't want a universal remote, you could consider a IR extender for the receiver. It would move the IR input to somewhere in front or near you.

Yes sorry Sony AV . Because of room configuration TV and receiver aren't near each other. All wiring goes infer the floor and back up to receiver on other side of room. A/B box seems to be the solution

From the conversation so far, it appears you have an A/V receiver that is not located by the TV and other equipment. That is giving you trouble from the get-bo.
Also, you've been asked to list your equipment. As previously stated, make and model number is what we're asking you for. That helps us give informed answers to your questions.
Ideally, with a home theater system,all components should be located together, with the obvious exceptions of speakers and a projector. If your receiver is located across the room from the rest of your system, you are forced to use long cables, which degrade sound and/or video quality.
Start over again, listing all your components.

Yup I get the long cables mean loss of signal part but for several reasons putting the receiver ( and other stuff like CD player turntable) on the other side of the room was the only way to do this and have anything at all..

All I am looking for is the best sound I can get with what I am dealing with.

The DTV box is an HR20-700, Receiver is Sony STR-DE898- As I said the TV is being replaced soon but I do not know what it will be. Speakers are Polk Audio except for Sub Woofer

I have coax running from the TV to the receiver. I had hoped to try the A/B box today by that didn't work out. Then the audio will run from DTV box to A/B box then coax back to receiver.

At this point I'll say that you have no idea what you are doing. Your system is wired wrong, setup wrong, and needs to be redone (from scratch). And I'll say that it is beyond your ability to do it.You really need to hire a pro but since you won't even spend the money on a much needed remote, you certainly are not going to pay money to a professional to do it right.

You say "you want the best sound". But that's not true, you seem to want the cheapest price and easiest hookup. The two are always mutually exclusive!

The solution for you here is: Rig everything up till you can get video and audio and then be happy with it. You will not miss the ease of use and performance that having it done right would bring. Because doing it right does cost quite a bit of money (to one unwilling to spend it) and is very complicated to install and program (for the average person).

You say "you want the best sound". But that's not true, you seem to want the cheapest price and easiest hookup. The two are always mutually exclusive!

It is only impossible if you demand to meet impossible conditions. Kind of like demanding that you want to drive from the passenger seat of your car but you can only use rubber bands from your daily newspaper and spent straws and popsicle sticks to make it happen.

Depending on the equipment involved, it may be possible (though incredibly difficult and likely expensive) to remote the AVR. It would likely involve the use of a coaxial digital audio cable and maybe MacGyvering a mirror to the wall behind the TV to reflect the IR remote signal.

The secret lies in recognizing what must be done and not summarily ruling it out because you lack the creativity or experience to figure it out.

The biggest deficit is the OP's firm avoidance of sharing make and model information. It could be that the equipment has the ability to do what is necessary built it but we cannot make any such assumptions.

Too often we enjoy the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought. -- JFK

Yup I get the long cables mean loss of signal part but for several reasons putting the receiver ( and other stuff like CD player turntable) on the other side of the room was the only way to do this and have anything at all..

All I am looking for is the best sound I can get with what I am dealing with.

The DTV box is an HR20-700, Receiver is Sony STR-DE898- As I said the TV is being replaced soon but I do not know what it will be. Speakers are Polk Audio except for Sub Woofer

Using an A?B box to switch between TV and DVD is not a problem

Don't you have any room by the TV for your A/V equipment? If not, I'd suggest you delay any further work on this project until you replace your TV. Then either wall mount your new TV or place it on an equipment stand which can hold your AVR, satellite box, turntable and DVD player. You'll find it to be a lot less complicated and easier to install and use. In my MBR, I have a42 inch LCD TV mounted on a Z-line 3 chelf equipment stand, which is holding a Pioneer AVR, Ion turntable, Insignia HD Radio tuner, TiVo Premier DVR, Wii, Kodak Home Theater, Roku, Panasonic 3D Blu-ray player, Toshiba HD DVD player and Panasonic VCR/DVD Recorder and still have space. My center channel speaker is on a small shelf I mounted below the TV on the TV support.